Improved fender or sheath for boots and shoes



` J. DILLINGHAM.

FENDER 0E sEEATE EOE EooTs AND sEoEs.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DILLINGHAM, OF TURNER, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO JESSE FOLLETT, OF OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED FENDER OR SHEATH FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,461, dated February 18, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DILLINGHAM, of Turner, in the county of Androscoggin and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful improvement on the several modes and forms heretofore in use for covering the toes of boots and shoes, whether of metallic or other substance, which I denominate a sheath or fender; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in forming asheath or fender for the protection both of the upper and under leather at the toe of boots and shoes. Said sheath is formed of compounded metals, and maybe composed of a mixture of lead,tin, and bismuth, or any of the known metals or preparations, such as india-rubber, gutta-percha, or other substances which are sufficiently sequacious to be wrought or molded into the desired form.

To enable others skilled in the art or science to which it appertains to make, construct, and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its formation or construction.

I construct said sheathby castingfrom many of the metallic compounds and shaping the mold so as to produce the form desired. I also form said sheath from thin metal plate by the use of swages, giving the form the same as those cast-a form unlike any other covering now in use for the protection of the toes of boots and shoes.

Said sheath has a double form, being a union of the covering for the upper and under leather of the toe of the boot or shoe in one entire piece of metal or other substance of which it maybe constructed. The form is such that it covers over the upper leather at the toe of the shoe (see letterA on drawing) and extends downward over the outer sole and passes over on the outside of said sole suicient to receive the nails to fasten it on, (see letter C on drawing,) and has also a central iange which passes between the outer and inner sole, extending back toward the heel. (See letter B on drawing.)

Letter D on drawing represents the under side of the same iiange, of which letter B repabout midway, and then by the use ot swages is pressed into the desired form. That portion which comes over the upper leather of the shoe will be of two thicknesses of said plate, and below that one portion passes between the inner and outer soles, and the other part of said plate extends over the end of the outer sole sufciently to be nailed the same as those formed by casting.

The top part of the forward end of said sheath is formed with a iuted or grooved surface with corresponding grooves on the inside.

I am aware that Newman Silverthorn filed his application for apatent fora metal tip on the 3d day of August, 1857, and described it as being simply a small piece of copper covering but a small portion of the upper leather only and passing in between the soles sufficiently to receive the pegs which fasten it on, leaving the remainder of the toe of the shoe without any protection, has no flange to support it, and no fluting or grooves to add strength and durability. I therefore do not claim this as my improvement.

I am also aware that George A. Mitchell made application for a patent on a metallic tip December 16, 1856, and this also covers but a small rim of the upper leather. at the toe of the shoe without protecting any other Apart thereof, no part coming over the end of the sole or on the under side, no flange, and no uting, and I do not claim any part of this as my improvement. Neither do I claim a former mode of protecting the toes of boots and shoes which consisted of a small piece of metal screwed onto the outer sole of the boot or shoe. This mode left all of the toe unprotected, except a very small part, as described.

I claiml. The connection or union of the covering for the upper leather and sole of the toe of the boot or shoe in one entire piece of metal or other substance as novel, and therefore my improvement.

2. As novel, the peculiar form of the sheath, whereby the covering for the upper and under leather of the shoe or boot is connected by a central iiange to support it, therefore not liable to get out of place.

JOHN DILLINGHAM.

Witnesses:

JoB PRINCE, JAMES A. CARY, SoPHRoNIA yM. FoLLET'r. 

